Scene + Heard Festival 2019

The Festival of New Work

A festival of new work across Music, Theatre, Comedy, Circus, Dance, Drag, Children’s Theatre & Spoken Word. We asked artists to bring their most original ideas to our stages to inspire our audiences, and to encourage them to give honest feedback on the works in development. These artists delivered. With over 105 companies showcasing new work this year, Smock Alley Theatre will come alive with the most playful, inventive, absurd, terrifying, comic and heart wrenching performances from Ireland’s rising and established theatre, radio, stand-up, spoken word, musical, drag and dance stars.

The 2019 programme offers the best tasters of never-before-seen works in progress from all corners of the island. A variety of wild and wonderful performances are programmed within 60 minute slots at very happy prices.

Theatre delicacies abound with stories overheard on the bus in Routeless, twitter meltdowns in 140 Characters, moving statues in Pilgrimville, self acceptance in Belly, an epidemic of disappearances in Have You Seen This Girl?,a new take on Waterford Crystal (the horse not the manufacturer), resurrection of the dead in The Common Task, and crazy weeding shenanigans in Gone Full Havisham.

For comedy lovers we have you covered with our a selection of delights from Wednesday Comedy, Beer & Wings nights to Liam Nugent: Holding Court. From Hannah Mamalis’ Symphony of Worms to Grand Stretch bringing us their Battle Royale of Improvised Theatre – Maestro. Ben Morgan laughs about surviving cancer in Smile C**t, You’re Not Dead Yet, and Ian Lynham’s Portrait of an Autist as a Young Man is unmissable. Paul Currie’s surreal Python comedy bursts through in Trufficle Musk and Anne Gill, Your Motha asks why after making two humans everyone keeps asking when she’s going back to work?

Let your ears experience the glorious twisting tuneful melodies of a selection of our finest music makers: Jessica Leen launches her EP BOY, Daniel McDermott is Under The Influence, Roger Gregg’s dark cabaret of diabolic frolic Idol Follies, Paul Gilgunn’s post minimalist opus Here We Are Now, Kirkos’ strings on the verge of collapse in tense systemsand EAFA’s soaring cacophony of synth will have you laugh/crying.

Fan of an audio book? Come listen to our rehearsed readings and be the very first to hear those shows and contribute to what they should do next. Martin Sharry brings us his intellectual panto Shambles, Lawyer Up advises on how to sue your boss, and The Pharmaceutical Trials of Love accidentally makes everyone fall in love.

For the theatre critics of the future we have a host of theatrical delights – hear the other side of what happened fadó fadó in Tír na nÓg, help Anna mend the hole in her heart in A Little Heartor follow the decision making process in Daddy or Chips?

Looking for an out-of-the-ordinary unusual experience? Take a sneak peak at a live podcast (sssh you shouldn’t be there) with Murder, He Podcasted, have a Dinner Date with Death (dinner included), experience Avoca Reaction’s 70’s glam rock merged with a Ted Talk in Big Girl’s Blouse, or rid yourself of all those frustrations at Scream With Us (screaming is compulsory).

And don’t forget the love in your life, the person you want to impress or maybe this is the moment for proposal – get yourself to our Valentine’s Dinner & Show. Enjoy Black Forest Ghetto Smocktails & a 2 course nostalgia meal straight out of the 1970’s followed by the ridiculously fun comedy theatre double-bill of Tragedy is for Tall People (how not to write for television) + Starship Valentine (space just got a lot sexier).

Audiences are an integral part of the festival, giving their feedback & constructive criticism through secret ballot, video booth testimonials, Q&A’s, Twitter, Facebook & candy polls. All this feedback is collated and sent directly to the artists. Armed with this feedback the artists go on to further develop the work, some creating full productions, touring nationally & internationally, and winning several prestigious awards.

The festival has become a breeding ground for new work to develop and tour both nationally & internationally as well as in the festival circuits. Shows that have begun their journey in Scene + Heard have since been fully realised and programmed in Dublin Fringe Festival, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Dublin Gay Theatre Festival, Galway Theatre Festival, Galway Fringe Festival, Limerick Fringe, Central Arts, International Literature Festival, London Irish Festival, Vicar Street, and Body & Soul not to mention stand-alone tours across Ireland and internationally.

The festival takes place over three weeks from 13th Feb – 2nd March. Performances take place during the evenings from Tues – Sun each week with afternoon matinees added at the weekends. There are no performances on Mondays.